The virus's life cycle starts in the infected nucleus. The retrovirus is covalently bonded to the DNA of the infected cell.
Once the virus is successfully in the cell, the nucleoprotein complex finds the intracellular DNA nucleotide triphosphate pools, and a special enzyme called the reverse transcriptase protein creates a DNA copy of the virus to infect more cells later on.
The new DNA finds a host strand of DNA to attach to, in another cell. It is now prepared to replicate, following step two, once again.
Examples of a Retrovirus in Organisms
-HIV/AIDS in humans -Feline Leukemia -Hepatitis C in orangutans
Leukemia- loss of appetite, poor condition of coat, skin infections, bladder and respiratory tract infections, seizures, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, fever, weight loss, gingivitis, litter box avoidance, pancytopenia (condition when blood becomes dilute in red and white blood cells and platelets), poor grooming, reoccurring bacterial and viral illnesses, anemia, and diarrhea
Hepatitis-Chronic (the stuff that keeps coming back): increased chance of liver cirrhosis, increased tendency to bruise and bleed, varices (enlarged veins, especially in the stomach and esophagus)
Acute symptoms (the stuff that shows up after the first six months): appetite, fatigue, abdominal pain, itching, and flu-like symptoms.
AIDS-increased risk of developing various cancers, fevers, sweats (particularly at night), swollen glands, weakness, and weight loss
Pictures of Organisms with and Without Virus:
With Aids
Without Aids
Cat with Leukemia
Cat without Leukemia
Orangutan with Hepatitis
Orangutan without Hepatitis
Annotated Bibliography
"Feline Leukemia Virus." Cornell Veterinary Medicine. 11 Apr. 2011. <cornell.edu>. -provides information about Feline Leukemia
"Human Retroviruses."University of Cape Town. 12 Apr. 2011. <web.uct.ac.za>.
-provides information about different kinds of retrovirus
"Life Cycle of HIV, a Retrovirus." Sumanas. 13 Apr. 2011. <sumanasinc.com> -provides information about HIV “Replication Cycle of a Retrovirus." Microbiology. 11 Apr. 2011. <highered.mcgraw-hill.com>. -provides retrovirus life cycle animation "retrovirus ." YouTube. 11 Apr. 2011. <youtube.com>. -provides animation of retroviruses "Retrovirus Life Cycle." Stanford University. 11 Apr. 2011. <stanford.edu>. -provides information about the life cycle "Viral pathogens."MetaPathogen. 13 Apr. 2011. <metapathogen.com>. -provides information about pathogens
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The Basic Life Cycle of a Retrovirus
Once the virus is successfully in the cell, the nucleoprotein complex finds the intracellular DNA nucleotide triphosphate pools, and a special enzyme called the reverse transcriptase protein creates a DNA copy of the virus to infect more cells later on.
Examples of a Retrovirus in Organisms
-HIV/AIDS in humans-Feline Leukemia
-Hepatitis C in orangutans
Genus species Names of Organism Infected
-Homo sapiens sapiens (Humans)-Felis catus (Cats)
-Pongo borneo (Orangutans)
Effect of Virus on Organism
Leukemia- loss of appetite, poor condition of coat, skin infections, bladder and respiratory tract infections, seizures, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, fever, weight loss, gingivitis, litter box avoidance, pancytopenia (condition when blood becomes dilute in red and white blood cells and platelets), poor grooming, reoccurring bacterial and viral illnesses, anemia, and diarrhea
Hepatitis- Chronic (the stuff that keeps coming back): increased chance of liver cirrhosis, increased tendency to bruise and bleed, varices (enlarged veins, especially in the stomach and esophagus)
Acute symptoms (the stuff that shows up after the first six months): appetite, fatigue, abdominal pain, itching, and flu-like symptoms.
AIDS-increased risk of developing various cancers, fevers, sweats (particularly at night), swollen glands, weakness, and weight loss
Pictures of Organisms with and Without Virus:
Annotated Bibliography
"Feline Leukemia Virus." Cornell Veterinary Medicine. 11 Apr. 2011. <cornell.edu>.-provides information about Feline Leukemia
"Human Retroviruses."University of Cape Town. 12 Apr. 2011. <web.uct.ac.za>.
-provides information about different kinds of retrovirus
"Life Cycle of HIV, a Retrovirus." Sumanas. 13 Apr. 2011. <sumanasinc.com>-provides information about HIV
“Replication Cycle of a Retrovirus." Microbiology. 11 Apr. 2011. <highered.mcgraw-hill.com>.
-provides retrovirus life cycle animation
"retrovirus ." YouTube. 11 Apr. 2011. <youtube.com>.
-provides animation of retroviruses
"Retrovirus Life Cycle." Stanford University. 11 Apr. 2011. <stanford.edu>.
-provides information about the life cycle
"Viral pathogens."MetaPathogen. 13 Apr. 2011. <metapathogen.com>.
-provides information about pathogens